Govt-farmers meeting ends in deadlock; next round of talks on 15 Jan

The next meeting on the problem is scheduled to be held on 15 January. The date has been considered keeping in mind the scheduled hearing on the protests and legality of the laws in Supreme Court on 11 January.

Farmers, however, informed the government in the course of the meeting that they’ll stick with their demand for a total withdrawal of the reforms brought by the BJP-led government at the Centre.

They stated that they will only return home from the protest site at the Delhi borders when the laws are repealed.

“Our ‘ghar wapsi’ (return to home) can happen provided that you do ‘legislation wapsi’ (repeal of legal guidelines),” a farmer leader said on the meeting.

After the meeting ended, the leaders termed it “inconclusive” and mentioned that they won’t settle for anything short of total withdrawal. They also stated that they’ll spend the harvest festivals of Lohri and Baisakhi at the protest sites if their demands aren’t met.

“The government is testing our strength. We will not bow down. It seems like we will spend Lohri and Baisakhi festivals here,” mentioned farmer leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan.

Farmers’ representative Hannan Mollah mentioned that protesters are ready to fight till death. He mentioned that going to court is not an option for them.

The government, on the other hand, insisted that the discussions stay limited to contentious clauses. The ministers holding the talks asserted that the farm reforms have been welcomed by a large section of farmers in various states and asked the unions to consider the interests of the entire nation.

“Discussion on the laws was taken up however no decision could be made. The government urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, we will consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded and it was decided to hold the next meeting on 15 January,” mentioned Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar after the meeting.

Reacting to the government’s statements, farmers leader Rakesh Tikait mentioned that they don’t seem to be prepared for a clause-wise discussion of the laws.

“Farmers will not relent before the laws are repealed. We will come back on 15 January again. We are not going anywhere. The government wanted to talk about amendments. We do not wish to have clause-wise discussions. We simply want a repeal of the new farm laws,” stated Tikait, the spokesperson of Farmer’s union.